News Highlights

Conference on Disability-Inclusive MDGs and Aid Effectiveness

14 – 16 March, 2012 - Bangkok, Thailand

Jointly organized by Leonard Cheshire Disability and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, this conference will bring together disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), NGOs, UN agencies and academics to discuss and share knowledge around innovative ways to mainstream disability into international development efforts. The event will take place at the United Nations Conference Centre of Bangkok, Thailand, between the 14 and 16 of March, 2012. The Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD) will be present at this important event and Ms. Maria Veronica Reina, GPDD’s Executive Director, will present at a panel on aid and development effectiveness.

“Disability Rights and Public Responsibilities: The Role of Public Policy in Fostering an Inclusive Society, The Ecuadorian Experience”

8 March, 2012 – Washington, DC, USA

On March 8th, 2012, GPDD executive Director Maria Reina participated to a panel discussion led by the Vice President of Ecuador Mr. Lenin Moreno on the topic “Disability Rights and Public Responsibilities: The Role of Public Policy in Fostering an Inclusive Society, The Ecuadorian Experience”. The event was co-organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador in the United States and the Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) and took place at the American University campus.

Other panelists included high-level representatives from the U.S. government and civil society leaders such as Ms. Charlotte Mcclain-Nhlapo, Coordinator for Disability and Inclusive Development at USAID and Mr. David Morrissey, Executive Director of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities.

The event provided an opportunity for Mr. Moreno to describe the Ecuador’s experience in creating a more inclusive society. Attention was given in particular to the program “Manuela Espejo”, which aims at delivering support and assistive device to all people with disabilities in Ecuador, mostly of which are located in rural areas and villages.

International Seminar on the Implementation of the World Report on Disability

23 – 25 February 2012, São Paulo, Brazil

This International Seminar will be held in São Paulo, Brazil from the 23 to the 25 of February in occasion of the launch of the Portuguese version of the World Report on Disability. The event has been organized by the São Paulo State Secretariat for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in cooperation with the Global Partnership on Disability and Development, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, the Latin-American Network of Non-Governmental Organization of Persons with Disabilities and their Families, the Brazilian Association of Physical Medicine, and the Lucy Montoro Rehabilitation Network.

World Disability Report Launch Event

9 February 2012, Istanbul , Turkey

The World Disability Report, prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, was launched in Istanbul on February 9, 2012. The launch event was organized jointly by the Ministry of Family and Social Policy of Turkey, WHO and the World Bank. The Turkish Minister of Family and Social Policy, Ms. Fatma Şahin, delivered the key note speech at the launch event. The Minister highlighted the importance Turkey gives to addressing the rights and needs of its citizens with disability, in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.